Deborah Dunham
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Heidi Klum Hits The Runway After Baby
Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage
The plan was for Klum to just host the show. "You definitely have less pressure hosting, when you don't shake your booty in front of millions of people around the world," she told People Magazine earlier this week. But those plans changed when the 36-year-old mother of four wowed the crowd in a surprise walk down the runway.
Looking sexier than ever, Klum was all smiles as she sported a low-cut corset and full skirt. "I'm definitely one of the heaviest of the bunch of the 30 girls in the show. And I still have 20 pounds to go," she said, but the screaming audience didn't seem to mind -- or even notice.
The former Victoria Secret's model and current "Project Runway" host reportedly gained 45 pounds with this pregnancy, but has been working with a trainer at her home in L.A. to regain her famous figure. Her workouts include walking and some moves with a medicine ball, yet she's careful not to overdo it and she's not stressing over her post-baby figure. "I embrace that I have more curves right now."
With a full schedule that includes cooking meals for a family of six including singer-husband, Seal, Klum admits she has little time to relax these days. But that doesn't seem to stop this supermodel turned supermom from looking hotter than ever!
Click on the gallery below to see how other famous moms got back into shape after pregnancy.
Gender Questioned Caster Semenya Gets to Keep Gold Medal
Photo: jose goulao, flickr
"Is she really a she?" We all remember how that question was widely debated after South African runner, Caster Semenya, won the gold in the women's 800-meters at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August. The rumors that started because some thought the athlete looked -- and ran, more like a man, subsequently put the gold medal in jeopardy. But Semenya's native sports ministry just announced that, yes indeed, she will be able to keep the medal.
In a statement on their web site, the South African Ministry of Sports and Recreation stated, "Because Caster has been found to be innocent of any wrong, she will retain her gold medal, retain her title of 800m World Champion and retain her prize money."
The ministry asked people to respect their decision. "We have also agreed with the IAAF that whatever scientific tests were conducted legally within the IAAF regulations will be treated as a confidential matter between patient and doctor. As such there will be no public announcement of what the panel of scientists has found. We urge all South Africans and other people to respect this professional ethical and moral way of doing things."
Biggest Loser's Rebecca and Daniel Dating
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Who says winning is everything? If you ask Rebecca Meyer, she might just tell you losing is. The latest castoff from "The Biggest Loser" told Jay Leno last Tuesday night that not only has she shed 122 pounds, but that weight loss allowed her to find the love of her life -- who has also lost big.
"I'm actually dating Daniel Wright...Daniel from the show," Rebecca said. Swearing that nothing had happened between the two during "The Biggest Loser," Rebecca said things heated up later. "After leaving the show we talked for, like, five, six-hour conversations and then...he told me he had feelings."
In case you're not a Biggest Loser junkie, 25-year-old Rebecca started this season at 279 pounds. Her weight struggles have gone from taunting schoolmates writing "Becky is fat" on her garage door to people now saying, "She's so ripped." Rebecca's new-found slim figure has given her a new-found confidence and when asked about being eliminated from the reality show, she smiled and replied, "I think it was an excuse to get rid of me because, you know, I was going to beat them."
After Eating Food from the Trash, Man Loses 275 Pounds
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When Gregg McBride stepped on the scale one day, he thought it was broken. He later discovered the "error" message it displayed did not mean it was broken after all -- it just didn't go over 450 pounds, which was how much Gregg weighed at the time.
The 36-year-old's struggle with weight began in early childhood when his parents told him he couldn't eat junk food. But instead of setting a healthy example, this strict diet only hurt Gregg, so much so that he would steal money from his father's wallet to buy junk food and secretly scarf it down. "They thought they were helping," Gregg told the Today Show. "But in hindsight, I can see that they created a forbidden fruit. I ate junk food like it was going out of style."
Gregg's food addiction continued to get worse over the next 30 years. He was consuming nearly 9,000 calories a day on a menu that included soda for breakfast; several cartons of Chinese food and milkshakes for lunch; and a family-of-four-size meal from a fast-food restaurant for dinner, with a whole bag of cookies for dessert.
Despite Gregg's many attempts to lose the weight, nothing stuck ."I tried every diet out there: the wacky ones, the public ones, the dangerous ones," he said. "But I just kept getting bigger and bigger."
Gregg even tried a liquid fast where he didn't consume solid food for weeks. But when he spotted a half-eaten bag of potato chips in his trash, he stared at it for an hour before finally reaching in and devouring it.
Muscular Development Basics: Muscles Grow Fast With Resistance Training, Rest and Nutrition
Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Muscular development is dependent on resistance training, rest (i.e. alternating which muscles your daily weight-training routine will work out) and nutrition.
Resistance training -- typically, weight training, is the most important factor in building muscles. Lifting weights puts the muscles under repeated stress. This trauma to the muscle leads to tiny tears or injury to the muscle fibers. In an effort to repair or replace them, additional cells fuse to the fibers. The result is known as hypertrophy or growth of the muscle size.
Strength workouts need to be followed by a rest period to allow muscles to rebuild and get stronger so they can handle the stress again. It can take 36 to 72 hours for this to happen. That is why training the same muscles two days in a row is not recommended.
Nutrition also plays an important role in muscular development. Protein, in particular, is used by muscles for growth and repair. The recommended daily amount ranges from 36 to 72 grams. To calculate the amount of protein you need, simply multiply your weight by .36. Hard-core athletes will need a higher amount.
While muscular development is different for everyone, research shows that men and women respond similarly. However, genetics, body composition and gender play a role in the extent of hypertrophy that someone can attain.
For more ways to build muscle even faster, take a look at men's fitness columnist Matt Murphy's guide to Build muscles fast.
Deborah Dunham is a competitive runner, 10-time marathoner, four-time Boston qualifier, triathlete, certified RRCA Running Coach and ACE Personal Trainer.
Resistance training -- typically, weight training, is the most important factor in building muscles. Lifting weights puts the muscles under repeated stress. This trauma to the muscle leads to tiny tears or injury to the muscle fibers. In an effort to repair or replace them, additional cells fuse to the fibers. The result is known as hypertrophy or growth of the muscle size.
Strength workouts need to be followed by a rest period to allow muscles to rebuild and get stronger so they can handle the stress again. It can take 36 to 72 hours for this to happen. That is why training the same muscles two days in a row is not recommended.
Nutrition also plays an important role in muscular development. Protein, in particular, is used by muscles for growth and repair. The recommended daily amount ranges from 36 to 72 grams. To calculate the amount of protein you need, simply multiply your weight by .36. Hard-core athletes will need a higher amount.
While muscular development is different for everyone, research shows that men and women respond similarly. However, genetics, body composition and gender play a role in the extent of hypertrophy that someone can attain.
For more ways to build muscle even faster, take a look at men's fitness columnist Matt Murphy's guide to Build muscles fast.
Deborah Dunham is a competitive runner, 10-time marathoner, four-time Boston qualifier, triathlete, certified RRCA Running Coach and ACE Personal Trainer.
Ashlee Simpson Defends 'Sexy' Sister
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
In the December issue of Women's Health magazine, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz says, "My sister has an incredible body. I feel sorry for anyone who would judge her, because she's one sexy lady." Jessica has taken quite a bit of heat for her curvier figure, from a body-bashing cartoon to the tabloid firestorm the erupted after she was photographed looking noticeably heavier while singing at a chili cookoff.
While Ashlee may think her big sis looks great, Jessica has enlisted the help of her former personal trainer who whipped her body into shape for "The Dukes of Hazzard." Apparently she's working hard because in a recent tweet to her coach, Jessica said, "Why am I still hurting from our workout earlier? I'm getting old! See you tomorrow with a pouty face and sore buns."
How to Get Six-Pack Abs
Six-pack abs: Everybody wants the tightly-defined bikini-ready stomach. But do you know how to get your stomach in shape?
That's Fit recently caught up with fitness expert, AOL Health contributor and That's Fit columnist Myatt Murphy, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and author of seveal best-selling fitness books, including "The Body You Want in the Time You Have" and "Ultimate Dumbbell Guide," who was able to shed some light on six-pack abs.
That's Fit: What exactly are six-pack abs?
Myatt Murphy: When you're talking about developing a classic six-pack stomach, what people are referring to is being able to see their rectus abdominus. What most people aren't aware of is that this stomach muscle is actually one, long sheet of muscle, not six different smaller muscles. What gives you that "six-pack" look are a series of tendons that criss-cross over the top to help protect and stabilize it. That one lesson is important to know because it can help you understand the right way to train this muscle.
TF: What, traditionally, has been the best way to achieve the defined look?
MM: Thanks to the fitness product industry, most people believe the key is doing certain ab exercises. The truth is, abdominal exercises will certainly help you strengthen and build your muscles, but they aren't that efficient at burning off the fat that covers most peoples' abs. The most important -- and unfortunately -- most overlooked-step is watching your diet and regular aerobic exercise.
TF: How much of achieving six-pack abs is based on diet and exercise versus gender and genetics?
MM: That depends on the individual. Some people are gifted with genetics that allow them to eat anything, avoid exercise and never displace much stored fat in their midsections. Others can be lean all over, but the first place they deposit fat is in their middle.
Your best bet is to follow all the steps towards achieving a leaner, tighter midsection and see what genetics has blessed you with. How prominent your six-pack will look after you've dieted and exercised enough will depend on your body shape, the size and length of the tendons that cover over your rectus abdominus and other genetic factors. But even if you never see a full "six" (some people only show a "four-pack"), being leaner around your middle and having a stronger midsection not only looks great, it'll keep you healthier and less prone to injury down the road.
TF: How quickly can you really expect to see results?
MM: It depends on your dedication. The fastest way to get a lean, muscular midsection is adhering to a strict diet, engaging in regular aerobic activity and performing exercises that shape and strengthen your abdominal muscles (so they look more prominent once the fat comes off). I've seen men and women who were able to achieve success in a matter of three or four weeks, while others have struggled for months. It is entirely up to you.
TF: What are the best exercises you can do to achieve six-pack abs and how often do you have to do them before you'll see results?
MM: There are countless exercises for your midsection, but two great rules of thumb are to make a point of training them every day, and to perform at least one exercise that trains your midsection from three different motions -- like a crunch, hanging knee raise and twists to work your obliques (otherwise known as "love handles").
One classic exercise that accomplishes all three in one is the bicycle crunch: Lie on your back with your legs straight and your feet raised an inch off the floor. Your hands should rest lightly behind your ears. To start the exercise, draw your left knee up toward your abs as you simultaneously curl your head and shoulders off the floor. Twist at the waist and try to touch your right elbow to your left knee. Lower yourself back down to the floor and repeat, this time curling your right knee up and trying to touch it to your left elbow. Alternate from left to right throughout the exercise and try to do as many repetitions as you can.
TF: Is it ever too late to try and get six-pack abs?
MM: Never. Every day you decide it's too late is just another day closer you could have been to having that six-pack stomach.
Check out these moves from That's Fit for more tips on getting ripped abs.
That's Fit recently caught up with fitness expert, AOL Health contributor and That's Fit columnist Myatt Murphy, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and author of seveal best-selling fitness books, including "The Body You Want in the Time You Have" and "Ultimate Dumbbell Guide," who was able to shed some light on six-pack abs.
That's Fit: What exactly are six-pack abs?
Myatt Murphy: When you're talking about developing a classic six-pack stomach, what people are referring to is being able to see their rectus abdominus. What most people aren't aware of is that this stomach muscle is actually one, long sheet of muscle, not six different smaller muscles. What gives you that "six-pack" look are a series of tendons that criss-cross over the top to help protect and stabilize it. That one lesson is important to know because it can help you understand the right way to train this muscle.
TF: What, traditionally, has been the best way to achieve the defined look?
MM: Thanks to the fitness product industry, most people believe the key is doing certain ab exercises. The truth is, abdominal exercises will certainly help you strengthen and build your muscles, but they aren't that efficient at burning off the fat that covers most peoples' abs. The most important -- and unfortunately -- most overlooked-step is watching your diet and regular aerobic exercise.
TF: How much of achieving six-pack abs is based on diet and exercise versus gender and genetics?
MM: That depends on the individual. Some people are gifted with genetics that allow them to eat anything, avoid exercise and never displace much stored fat in their midsections. Others can be lean all over, but the first place they deposit fat is in their middle.
Your best bet is to follow all the steps towards achieving a leaner, tighter midsection and see what genetics has blessed you with. How prominent your six-pack will look after you've dieted and exercised enough will depend on your body shape, the size and length of the tendons that cover over your rectus abdominus and other genetic factors. But even if you never see a full "six" (some people only show a "four-pack"), being leaner around your middle and having a stronger midsection not only looks great, it'll keep you healthier and less prone to injury down the road.
TF: How quickly can you really expect to see results?
MM: It depends on your dedication. The fastest way to get a lean, muscular midsection is adhering to a strict diet, engaging in regular aerobic activity and performing exercises that shape and strengthen your abdominal muscles (so they look more prominent once the fat comes off). I've seen men and women who were able to achieve success in a matter of three or four weeks, while others have struggled for months. It is entirely up to you.
TF: What are the best exercises you can do to achieve six-pack abs and how often do you have to do them before you'll see results?
MM: There are countless exercises for your midsection, but two great rules of thumb are to make a point of training them every day, and to perform at least one exercise that trains your midsection from three different motions -- like a crunch, hanging knee raise and twists to work your obliques (otherwise known as "love handles").
One classic exercise that accomplishes all three in one is the bicycle crunch: Lie on your back with your legs straight and your feet raised an inch off the floor. Your hands should rest lightly behind your ears. To start the exercise, draw your left knee up toward your abs as you simultaneously curl your head and shoulders off the floor. Twist at the waist and try to touch your right elbow to your left knee. Lower yourself back down to the floor and repeat, this time curling your right knee up and trying to touch it to your left elbow. Alternate from left to right throughout the exercise and try to do as many repetitions as you can.
TF: Is it ever too late to try and get six-pack abs?
MM: Never. Every day you decide it's too late is just another day closer you could have been to having that six-pack stomach.
Check out these moves from That's Fit for more tips on getting ripped abs.
Proform Treadmills: A Good Buy?
If you're looking for a beginner- to intermediate-level treadmill that is fairly inexpensive and fit for running or walking, a Proform treadmill might be a good choice. They are one of the most popular and best-selling brands, and they offer a comprehensive range of models for buyers to choose from.
Most Proform treadmills come with QuickSpeed and QuickIncline control, which allows the walker or runner to adjust the speed and incline with the touch of one button. They also offer different levels of cushioning beneath the running surface to help absorb some of the shock to protect your knees and other joints.
Many of the treadmills feature built-in pulse monitors, fans and an interactive workout disc that controls the speed and incline while a person's voice encourages you.
Because Proform treadmills are low-priced, they don't offer all of the benefits found in more expensive models. Some drawbacks include a smaller running surface than in other machines and a louder motor. Additionally, Proform treadmills come with a 90-day warranty whereas other exercise equipment might have a lifetime warranty.
Prices for Proform treadmills range from $599 to $1,699, and they are available through the Internet or most major sporting goods stores.
Once you have your machine, try some of these fat-burning treadmill workouts.
Most Proform treadmills come with QuickSpeed and QuickIncline control, which allows the walker or runner to adjust the speed and incline with the touch of one button. They also offer different levels of cushioning beneath the running surface to help absorb some of the shock to protect your knees and other joints.
Many of the treadmills feature built-in pulse monitors, fans and an interactive workout disc that controls the speed and incline while a person's voice encourages you.
Because Proform treadmills are low-priced, they don't offer all of the benefits found in more expensive models. Some drawbacks include a smaller running surface than in other machines and a louder motor. Additionally, Proform treadmills come with a 90-day warranty whereas other exercise equipment might have a lifetime warranty.
Prices for Proform treadmills range from $599 to $1,699, and they are available through the Internet or most major sporting goods stores.
Once you have your machine, try some of these fat-burning treadmill workouts.
Overweight Kids Doomed for Heart Disease
Digital Vision
Medical experts report that overweight kids are heart attacks just waiting to happen. One study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that today's kids are likely to become adults with heart disease, which translates to more hospitalizations, more medications, more medical procedures and a shorter life expectancy. Another study reported that if the number of overweight children continues to increase at the current rate, there will be 100,000 additional cases of heart disease by 2035.
Who are the main culprits for childhood obesity? Parents, for one. Carting in boxes of donuts to their little ones' soccer games, offering sugar-loaded fruit drinks as after-school snacks and replacing home cooking with deep-fried drive-thrus, parents are teaching kids some fattening life lessons. The average child today consumes 180 more calories a day than their leaner counterparts did in 1989. That can translate to an extra 18 pounds a year.
Stomach Bacteria May Cause Weight Gain
Photo: Getty Images
Could probiotics help to stave off weight gain?
A new research study found that the type of food you eat can affect the type of bacteria in your stomach in as little as 24 hours, which can make gaining weight easier and losing it harder.
Researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis examined two types of stomach bacteria: Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. It's this bacteria that determines if the food you eat is stored as fat or burned as calories. While some bacteria in the stomach is good to help safeguard against disease, the amount of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes can make a difference in your waistline. And a major contributor to which type of bacteria people have is food.
